Elena Carr, U.S. Department of Labor

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Reenergizing the Roots of Employee Assistance
Tapping Into Federal Workplace Substance
Abuse Efforts
Elena Carr, U.S.
Department of Labor
Tad Davis, White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy
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Current Trends in Drug Use

• Research indicates a decline in youth drug use,
  but less progress among adults
• From 2002-2004
• Non-medical use of prescription medications among
  young adults increased
• Adult methamphetamine use remained steady

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A Workplace Concern Current Illicit
Drug Use

• Of 16.4 million current illicit drug users aged
  18 or older in 2004, 12.3 million (75.2 percent)
  were employed
• 8.0 of full-time workers
• 10.3 of part-time workers

4
A Workplace Concern Alcohol Abuse

• Of 51.9 million adult binge drinkers in 2004,
  41.2 (79.3) million were employed either full or
  part time
• Of 16.0 million adult heavy drinkers, 12.7
  (79.5) were employed either full or part time

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A Workplace Concern Substance
Dependence or Abuse

• Of 20.3 million adults classified with substance
  dependence or abuse in 2004, 15.7 million were
  employed
• 10.5 of full-time workers
• 11.9 of part-time workers

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Workplace as the
Solution

• The Federal government is reviving efforts to
  promote DFWPs as a means to address this problem
• The workplace is one of the most effective venues
  for reaching adults with alcohol and drug
  problems
• Offers opportunity for education as well as
  meaningful incentives to stop use

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History of Related Efforts

• Executive Order 12564/Agency-Specific
  Fitness-for-Duty Regulations
• Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988
• Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of
  1991
• Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998

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Current Initiatives

• Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administration/ Center for Substance Abuse
  Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP)
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

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Renewed ONDCP Workplace Efforts

• Gather data to demonstrate effectiveness of
  workplace drug testing
• Focus on small businesses
• Improved coordination between Federal agencies
  (DOL, SAMSHA, SBA)
• Engage DFWP industry organizations (EAPA, DATIA,
  SAPAA)
• Director visits to drug-free workplaces as part
  of Major Cities Initiative

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Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

• Major Cities Initiative
• Engages officials and citizens in about 25 of the
  nations largest cities
• Encourages cities to use proven techniques in
  expanding efforts to reduce drug use
• Promotes coordination among all segments of the
  community
• Assists in gathering accurate data on each citys
  current state of drug use

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ONDCP Major Cities Initiative
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Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

• Parents _at_Work Program
• Component of The Anti-Drug national media
  campaign
• Allows employers to provide working parents with
  resources to help them talk to their children
  about drug issues
• Web resources and e-newsletter
• Articles for employee newsletters
• Brochures, posters and other resources for
  distribution

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Department of Labor Approach

• Non-regulatory
• Promotes five-pronged programs that include
  support for workers with alcohol and drug
  problems
• Addresses workplace substance abuse not just
  illicit drug use
• Respects rights of workers and employers
• Targets small businesses

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DOLs Working Partners Program

• Public education and outreach campaign to
• Raise awareness about the impact of substance
  abuse on the workplace
• Equip work organizations to implement drug-free
  workplace programs that protect worker safety and
  health
• Assist DOL internal agencies in addressing
  substance abuse as it impacts their missions

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What is a
Drug-Free Workplace?

• Confusion abounds! DFWP means different things
  to different people
• Not synonymous with drug testing (despite
  widespread belief)
• Not synonymous with EAP
• No specific Federal law governs most private
  sector programs

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What is a
Drug-Free Workplace?

• A work environment where
• All employees understand that illicit use of
  drugs and abuse of alcohol while working is not
  acceptable and
• Policies and programs discourage alcohol or other
  drug abuse and facilitate treatment and
  recovery

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Five-Step Approach to a Drug-Free Workplace

• Policy and procedures
• Employee awareness and education
• Supervisor training
• Employee assistance program
• Drug testing

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)

• Substance Abuse Initiative
• Formalizes OSHAs support for drug-free workplace
  programs
• Educates that drug-free workplace programs add
  value to safety and health plans
• Targets high-hazard industries, including
  construction (industries with the highest rates
  of substance abuse are construction and mining)

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)

• Recent activities
• Multi-Union Drug-Free Workplace Alliance
• NFIB Alliance that includes the goal of drug-free
  workplaces
• OSHA Substance Abuse Web page
• Presentations at safety and health conferences
  and articles in publications

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Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

• Keeping Americas Mines Drug and Alcohol Free
  campaign
• Educates the mining community about the dangers
  of drug and alcohol use in mines
• Encourages collaborative, community-based
  strategies for addressing the issue
• Launched at Dec. 2004 Tri-State Summit (KY,
  VA, WV)
• Participates in Tri-State Substance
  Abuse Task Force

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The EAP Challenge

• Re-assert capacity and expertise to address
  workplace substance abuse
• Learn to co-exist with drug testing

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Tips for Maximizing EAP Influence

• Embrace EAPs role both within and beyond a
  drug-free workplace
• Reinforce drug-free workplace message
• Capitalize on drug testing to identify and
  intervene early

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Tips for Maximizing EAP Influence

• Learn about drug-testing policies, procedures and
  technology
• Partner with drug-testing to provide appropriate
  training to employees and supervisors
• Leverage available resources to expand available
  services

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EAP Opportunities

• Utilize free resources available from DOL and
  other Federal agencies
• Target high-hazard industries
• Reach out to
• Union groups
• Local or state NFIB chapters
• OSHA Consultants
• SAMHSA YIW grantees
• Get involved in ONDCP Major Cities Initiative

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Working Partners Web Site

• www.dol.gov/workingpartners
• Drug-Free Workplace Advisor - policy development
  tool
• Training presentations, articles and fact sheets
• Directories of state resources and laws
• Newsroom with information about DOL agency
  drug-free workplace initiatives and PSAs (print
  and radio)
• E-mail alert service

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www.dol.gov/workingpartners